Harp.



' hlm-757,462. PATBNTED APR. 19, 1904.

' T. J. HISSBM.

HARP.

APPLIOATION FILED O0T.19, 1903. NO MODEL.

17." ffssEM W/YYVbSES:

UNITED STATES Patented April 19, 1994..

PATENT OFFICE.

HARP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 757,462, dated April19, 1904. i Application led October 19, 1903. Serial No. 177,584. (Nomodel.)

and useful Improvements in Harps, of which the following is aspecification, which when taken in connection with the accompanying`drawings, forming a part thereof, is sufficiently clear and concise asto enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains toj make anduse the same.

My present invention does not contemplate a radical departure from theprinciples heretofore involved inthe construction of harps, but ratherthe adoption of well-known principles with their mechanical elementsreduced to their simplest proposition and the system and arrangementimproved to accomplish the named objects and, as a natural sequence,accentuating the utilitarian and musical benefits thereof and adaptingthem to subserve the highest economic ends.

The object of my invention, broadly speak ing, is to provide a harpcomposed of coperating, interdependent, and subsidiary elements arrangedand combined to subserve the highest economic ends and to produce thehighest measure of efliciency.

Another object is the provision of a harp which will be comparativelyeasy 0f operation, compact in its several parts and proportions, toreduce the number of parts to a minimum without detriment to its musicalefficacy, in which the parts are arranged and combined to cause the mostdirect vresponse from the part to be acted on, in which the mechanicaloperations will be absolutely noiseless, and in which the constructionwill be symmetrical and pleasing to the eye in appearance.

A further object is to provide a harp adapted to be tuned eleven stringsto the octave, thus enabling the performer to make a chromatic run withease, and by means of my improvements the harp is rendered moreeiiicient either for capricio, orchestral, operatic, or symphony work.

A still further object is to provide a harp having a positive, eicient,and easily-operated action for changing the tone of certain ofthestrings thereof, each having independent mechanisms constructed toaccomplish its object in the swiftest manner possible.

A further object isto provide a new system of arranging the stringsfofthe harp in order that the-gamut or scale may be run chromatically andalso accomplishing the work with less manual labor and at the same timeproviding means whereby a higher grade of musical technique may beproduced by the ordinarily` proficient operator.

Other Yobjects and advantages of my invention will appear from thefollowing specification by reference tothe accompanying drawings, and asmore specifically pointed'out in the accompanying claims. l

The invention consists of the arrangements and combinations of theseveral parts, together with their configurations, substantiallylasshown in the accompanying drawings," in which- Y* Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the upperportion of the left-hand side of my harp. Fig..` 2is a section of a portion ofl my harp, taken on the line X X of Fig. l.Fig. v3 is a detail face view of one of the adjustable plates anddisksand the means for operating same. Fig. 4 is a central section taken onthe' line Y Y yof Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the'bell-cranks.` Fig. 6 is an isometrical view of one of the horizontalconnecting-bars. Fig. 7 is a detail isometrical view of one of thespindles and its permanent arm secured thereto and the helical springtherefor. Fig. 8 isa detail view of one of the adjustable' arms, andFig. 9 is a detail view of one of the'upwardly-extendingconnecting-bars.

Similar indices refer to and denote like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings. Referring now to my invention in detail, thenumeral l denotes the head of my harp, 2 the body, 3 the neck, and L thecolumn,l which parts may be of any suitable form or construction, asdesired. Asis indicated in Figs. l and 2, a horizontal rectangularrecess is cut out of the under sideof the neckB, eX- tending fror'nthepost toward therear of the harp, andan aperture corresponding thereto incross-section is formed opposite thereto in the head 1, as indicated.The head 1 and the IOO column 4 are hollow,as suggested in the drawings.To the neck 3, on each side of said recess therein, isa plate-6 on theleft and 6' on the right-secured by screws, as indicated in Fig. l, saidplates being larger' than said recess and mortised in, as shown, inorder that their faces will be flush with the respective faces of theneck 3, as indicated in Fig. 2. By the above it will be manifest that aspace is formed in the neck by said plates.

Pivoted in the plates 6 and 6', across the space therebetween, are thespindles 8, 8, 8, 8, and 8d, each having permanently secured thereto andextending up therefrom the arms 10, 10, 10", 10, and 10. Extendingacross between said plates within the head 1` is a shaft 9, and pivotedthereon through the eyes 5C are five bell-cranks 5, 5', 5", 5"', and5"", each having the eye 5 for pivoting it to the shaft 9, and also inthe opposite points are the eyes 5'L and 5, as indicated in Fig. 5. Thearms 10, 10, 10", 10, and 101 are pivotally connected to the respectivebell-cranks 5, 5', 5", 5"', and 5"" by connecting-rods 12, 12, 12, 12,and 12d, respectively. Pivoted in the eye 5 of the bell-cranks areconnecting-rods c, Z, c, d, and e, which extend down through the column4, where each is connected to a separate pedal for moving said rods c,I), c, d, and e endwise vertically and by which the rods 12, 12, 12b,12, and 12d are thus adapted to be moved endwise horizontally.

Surrounding the spindles 8, 8, 8b, and 8 is a coil-spring 14, one end ofwhich contacts with the arm 10, 10, 10, and 10 and the opposite end withthe plate 6, and a similar spring 14 surrounds the spindle 8, one end ofwhich contacts with the arm 10'l and the other end with the plate 6',the objects of said springs 14 being to prevent the mechanism fromrattling by keeping the adjustable outer arms contacted with theirrespective plates.

Adjustably secured by a set-screw to the left-hand ends of the spindles8, 8, 8", and 8", outside the plate 6, are the respective arms 7, 7, 7b, and 7, and adjustably secured by a set-screw to the right-hand end ofthe spindle 8d, outside the plate 6', is the arm 7. The arms 8, 8, 8, 8,and 8Ll have pivoted to their outer ends the respective connecting- Ybars 13, 13, 13", 13, and 13, as shown.

The indices 15, 15, 15, 15, and l5d each represent an identicaladjustable plate, the four former being secured on the left-hand face ofthe neck 3 and the latter on the righthand face of the neck 3 in therespective positions indicated in Fig. 1. Through each of said plates,near each side thereof, is a vertical slot 15 to receive each a screw Ato be inserted in the side of the neck through said slots, whereby saidplates may be adjusted vertically. In the center of the plate 15 is athreaded aperture to receive an axial screw B. Contacting with the plate15 is the washer 16, with a central opening therethrough through whichpasses the screw B. Contacting' with the washer 16 is the inner disk 17also having a central opening through which passes the screw B andhaving two oppositely-disposed ears 17', extending out beyond itsperiphery, with threaded screw-holes through said ears to receive thescrews C and of same size as the disk 17, and contactable therewith isthe outer disk 19, with a central opening therethrough to receive thescrew B in snch a manner that it will be flush with the face of the disk19, as indicated. The heads of the screws C are adaptedwhen tightened toengage the disk 19 and hold it securely in contact with the disk 17, orby loosening said screws the outer disk may be adjustedcireumferentially, as desired. Extending out from the :face of twooppositely-disposed points near the outer edge of the disk 19 are thetwo lingers 20. Integral with the disk 17 and extending out therefrom isthe arm 18, having' pivotally connected to its outer end theconnecting-arm 13,' above referred to. Immediately preceding I havereferred more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4; but it should be understoodthat each of the live disks and their individual mechanisms are of thesame construction, and the above des l3ription of one particularly willanswer for a l.

I will now refer to two octaves of the strings of my harp, it beingunderstood that other similar octaves may be continued, as desired.Commencing nearest the column 4, the first eleven strings constitute thebass-octave, and the respective strings are designated byn umbers and inmusical terms, as follows: The numeral 50 denotes the F string; 51, the(ir string; 52, the A string; 53, the B-liat; 54, the B; 55, the C; 56,the C-sharp; 57, the D; 58, the E; 59, the F, and 6() the F-sharp.Constituting the treble-octave the respective strings are designated bynumber and by musical terms, as follows: 6l denotes the G string; 62,the A string; 63, the B-flat; 64, the B; 65, the C; 66, the C-sharp; 67,the D; 68, the E; 69, the F; 70, the F-sharp, and 71 the G. The livedisks I have shown are arranged to operate on the five strings 50, 51,and 57 in the bass-octave and 61 and 67 in the trebleoctave, the disk 19being located slightly back of its respective string with the twofingers 20 thereof disposed one on each side of its string and being soarranged that by turning the disk 19 the fingers thereof will bc causedto grasp its string, and when so brought into action the string operatedon will be changed in tone to sharp-thus, for instance, the F string 5()may be changed to F-sharp, the Gr string 51 may be changed to G-sharp,the D string 57 may be changed to fl`)-sl1arp, the G string 61 may bechanged to G-sharp, and the D string' 67 may be changed to D-sharp-which operations are accomplished by depressing the respectiverods c, t, c, LZ, and e by any suitable mechanical means, such as IIOpedals. In order to individualize each disk mechanism, they are to beknown as follows:

Beginning with the one nearest the head 1,'

the first is the F-sharp disk, the second is the G-sharp disk, the thirdis the E-flat disk, the

fourth is the G-sharp disk, and the fifth is the E-iiat disk, and itwill be apparent that by bringing the fingers of the disk into action'with its string its string will be changed in tone to that justindicated.

connecting-arms, as 13l and 13, (shown in Fig. 1,) may be pivoted to theouter ends of the arm 18 in addition to the arms 13c and 13d andextended to other disks to operate on correspondings strings in othercorresponding octaves.

From the above it will also be apparent that the bass octave is completein itself, while the treble disks only are designed to be connected toother disks in order that, for instance, the Gr and D disks may beconnected to other disks to operate on all G and D strings. 1

My harp is herein shown with thirty-live strings, while if constructedfor operatic work I would prefer to have it equipped with fifty-fivestrings.

In actual practice I have found it preferable to dispose the bassstrings three-fourths of an inch apart, and the treble strings I disposeeleven-sixteenths of an inch apart, thus causing the strings to be veryeasy to reach.

While I have illustrated and described the best means now known to mefor carrying out my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do notrestrict myself to the exact details of construction shown anddescribed, buthold that any slight changes or variations as wouldsuggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic would clearly fall withinthe limit and scope of my invention.

Having now fully shown and described my invention and the best means forits construction and arrangement to me known at this time, what I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. Ina harp having the usual body and neck and hollow column and head,arecess formed in the under side of the neck and communieating with theinterior of the head, a plate secured to the neck on each side of saidrecess, a plurality of spindles pivoted between and by said plates, anarm extending up from each of said spindles between said plates, a shaftsecured between said plates within said head, a plurality of bell-crankspivoted on said shaft, a connecting-rod pivoted to each of saidbellcranks and to each of said arms of said spindles, an adjustable armattached to each of said spindles outside of and adjoining one of saidplates, a coil-spring surrounding said spindles, a plurality ofadjustable plates secured on the side of the neck, an inner disk and anouter disk pivoted over said adjustable plates by a central screw, meansfor adjustably securing said outer disk to the inner diskcircumferentially, a pair of fingers extending out from the face of theouter disks, an arm extending out from the inner disk, a connecting-barpivoted at one end to said arm of the inner disk and pivoted at theother end to said adjustable arm, a rod pivoted to each of saidbell-cranks and extending down through said column, all substantially asshown and de- It will be obvious that, if desired, other` scribed andfor the purposes set forth.

2. In a harp having the'usual body, neck, head and hollow column, arecess formed in the under side of the neck adjacent to and incommunication with the interior of the head, a plate secured to the neckon each side of said recess, a plurality of spindles pivoted to andbetween said plates, an arm extending up from each of said spindlesbetween said plates, a shaft secured between said plates within thehead, a plurality of bell-cranks pivoted on said shaft, a connecting-rodpivoted to each of said bell-cranks and to each of said arms, anadjustable arm attached to each of said spindles outside of said recessand adjoining one of said plates, a spring surrounding each of saidspindles, a plurality of adjustable plates secured on the side of theneck, an inner and an outer disk pivoted over said adjustable plates,means for adjustably securing said outer disk to the said inner disk, apair of fingers extending out from the face of the outer disk, an armextending out from the inner disk, a connecting-rod pivoted, at one endto said arm of the inner disk and pivoted at the other end to saidadjustable arm, a plurality of strings suspended vertically between saidbody and neck and tuned eleven strings to the octave, a bass octave anda plurality of treble octaves, certain of said strings being disposedover said outer disks whereby they 'are adapted to be engaged by saidfingers, all substantially as described.

3. In a harp having the usual body, neck and head, a hollow columnvertically connecting the body and neck with the interposed head, aplurality of strings suspended between said body and neck and tunedeleven strings to the octave, a bass octave having an F, G, A, B-iiat,B, C, C-sharp, D, E, F and F-sharp string with means for sharping thefirst, second and eighth of said strings, one or more treble octaveshaving a G, A, B-flat, B, C, C-sharp, D, E, F, F-sharp, and a G stringwith means for sharping the first and seventh of said strings, the saidmeans for sharping certain of said strings consisting of the followinginstrumentalities: a recess formed in the under side of the neckadjacent to and in communication with the interior of the head, a platesecured to the neck on each side of said recess, a plurality of spindlespivoted by and between said plates, an arm extending up from each ofsaid spindles between said plates, a shaft secured between said plateswithin the IOO IIO

IZO

head, a plurality of bell-cranks pivoted on l disk, a connecting-barpivoted at one end to said shaft, a connecting-rod pivotcd to each ofsaid bell-cranks and to each of said arms, an adjustable arm attached toeach of said spindles outside of said recess and adjoining one of saidplates, a plurality of adjustable plates secured on the side of theneck, an inner and an outer disk pivoted over said adjustable plates,means for rotatably securing said outer disk to the inner disk, apair offingers extending out from the face of the outer disk, an arm extendingout from the inner said arm of the inner disk and pivotcd at tlle otherend to said adjustable arm, and means for preventing,l rattling of theparts, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony Wliereofl have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS J. HISSEM.

Witnesses:

ROBERT XN. RANDLE, R. E. RANDLE.

